Former Alabama football star quarterback benched by NFL team

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One of the biggest former Alabama football stars is headed to the bench.

The Miami Dolphins are benching sixth-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday, one day after coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that "everything's on the table" after his team's 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.

Tagovailoa was sacked four times and threw an interception in the loss, which eliminated Miami (6-8) from playoff contention. Tagovailoa finished the night with 253 passing yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. The Dolphins had won four straight prior to the loss.

Schefter reports that Miami is turning to rookie Quinn Ewers, the former Texas Longhorns quarterback who was drafted in the seventh round back in April. The Dolphins will host the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (noon CT, CBS).

Tagovailoa was Miami's first-round pick (No. 5 overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft after a stellar career under Nick Saban at Alabama.

As a true freshman with the Crimson Tide, he became an instant legend for his heroics in the second half of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta when he took over for Jalen Hurts and helped the Tide erase a 13-0 halftime deficit.

Tagovailoa connected with fellow freshman DeVonta Smith for a 41-yard game-winning touchdown — "2nd and 26" — in overtime as Alabama defeated Georgia, 26-23, to win the school's 17th national championship, and the fifth of the Saban era.

Tagovailoa ranks third in Alabama football history in passing yards (7,442) in his two-plus seasons in Tuscaloosa. He threw for 87 touchdowns and rushed for another nine from 2017-19 while at Alabama.

In 14 games this season, Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns. His 15 interceptions lead the NFL.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football former star quarterback benched ahead of NFL Week 16

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